The Lincoln Squirrel – News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

seniors

Council on Aging activities for December

bemisMeet with an aide to Congresswoman Clark
December 2 at 1 p.m.
You are invited to Bemis Hall on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. to meet with Anthony Moreschi, Constituent Service Representative for Congresswoman Katherine Clark. He will be available to assist residents with Social Security, Medicare, and MassHealth/Medicaid. You are also welcome to discuss other matters with him that he may be able to help with.

Toe-tappin’ jazz at Bemis
December 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 2:30 when a traditional jazz combo gathers around the magnificent piano at Bemis Hall for an afternoon of old-time favorites. Share in the fun as trumpet, sax, clarinet, trombone, bass, drums and piano belt out foot stompers of the ‘20s, ’30s and ’40s. Tap your toes to good ole oldies such as Ain’t She Sweet, Somebody Stole My Gal, Bei Mir Bist Du Shein, or I’m Sittin’ on Top of the World.

Be prepared for winter’s fury: lunch and learn
December 4 at 12 p.m.
We all learned last year how challenging New England winters can be, but blizzards, power outages, and other potential disasters can be easier if you are prepared. Join Ben Juhola of the Lincoln Fire Department on Friday, Dec. 4 at 12 p.m. at the Public Safety Building for lunch and a presentation about how you can be sure you are ready for winter, including what supplies you need, ensuring you have communication, what to take if you need to go to a shelter, how Public Safety will be there to serve you, and more. Please sign up in advance by calling the COA at 781-259-8811 so Public Safety knows how many people to expect.

Celebrate the holidays with other veterans and spouses
December 7 at 9 a.m.
Celebrate the holidays with other veterans and their spouses on Monday, Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. You’ll be treated to pancakes with butter and syrup, coffee, and great conversation! This is a social time just to chat and get to know other veterans in town. The breakfast will be followed by the Veteran to Veteran discussion group at 10 a.m. The breakfast is free, but please sign up by calling the COA at 781-259-8811. [Read more…] about Council on Aging activities for December

Thanksgiving contra dance and maybe more

turkey1Contra dance at First Parish

The First Parish in Lincoln will sponsor a Thanksgiving Night Contra Dance on Thursday, Nov. 26 from 7-10 p.m. at the Smith School. The program will feature musicians Larry Unger and Julie Metcalf, and caller Chris Ricciotti. All ages and abilities are welcome. Tickets are $6 for adults and students, or $4 for children 10 and under. For more information, contact Kati Winchell at 781-259-0692 or kwinchell@comcast.net.

Seniors invited to Wednesday dinner

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School invites the seniors of both Lincoln and Sudbury to a Thanksgiving dinner at the school (390 Lincoln Road in Sudbury) on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at noon. Diners will be entertained by both student musicians and an intergenerational dance troupe. Call the Lincoln Council on Aging at 781-259-8811 to sign up.

Who wants to wobble?

Jen Flanagan of Lincoln is asking if Lincolnites are interested in the Thanksgiving morning Gobble Wobble again this year. Participants run or walk either 3.5 miles or 2.5 miles after donating an “entry fee” of one bag of nonperishable groceries. The food goes to Open Table in Concord, which has come to depend on the contributions. Flanagan will organize the event again this year if there is enough interest; email her at jen@flanagans.us.

L-S alumni soccer, anyone?

Another holiday tradition is the L-S soccer alumni game on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Organizers need to know if there is enough interest to reserve a field at the high school. If interested, leave a note on the L-S Soccer Alumni Facebook page or email tim_mangini@wgbh.org.

November activities at the Council on Aging

bemisLincoln Academy with Avram Kalisky—From the desert (Israel) to the midnight sun (Scandinavia)
November 2 at 12:30 p.m.
Come to Bemis Hall on Monday, Nov. 2 at 12:30 to hear Avram Kalisky discuss “From the Desert (Israel) to the Midnight Sun (Scandinavia).” Bring a bag lunch. The Council on Aging provides beverages and dessert. The lectures last about an hour, including a question and answer period. Participants are welcome to stay after the program to continue their discussion.

Minuteman High School building conversation
November 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Join the Minuteman High School Building Committee on November 3 at 2:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall to get an update on plans to build a new Minuteman High School. The project, with Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) support, is now in the schematic design phase. Building a new school was determined to be the least expensive alternative for local taxpayers and the option with the most educational benefits for students by Minuteman and the MSBA. The new building will be in Lincoln, next to the existing high school. Come with questions and concerns. [Read more…] about November activities at the Council on Aging

No major obstacles to putting community center on campus, consultant says

A map showing which parts of the campus were built at different times (click to enlarge).

By Alice Waugh

If a community center is built on the Hartwell campus, more parking will be needed, but creating a new entrance from Lincoln Road on the south side of the site probably won’t be necessary, according to an interim report by the Campus Master Planning Committee consultants.

Because both a school project and a community center are being contemplated on the Ballfield Road campus, the CMPC was formed to study the basic infrastructure and physical layout of the campus and assess the capacity of the existing infrastructure (buildings, roadways, septic systems, etc.) to support future uses. [Read more…] about No major obstacles to putting community center on campus, consultant says

News acorns

lurgio

Joanne Lurgio

Joanne Lurgio appears at next LOMA event

The next LOMA (Lincoln Open-Mike Acoustic) event will feature Joanne Lurgio at the Lincoln Public Library on Monday, Oct. 19 starting at 7 p.m. Lurgio, who will perform a half-hour set starting around 8:30 p.m., has four CDs to her credit, including this year’s Rise from the Storm.

LOMA is a monthly event. Performers can sign up at the event or email Rich Eilbert at loma3re@gmail.com before noon of the open-mike date for a slot. Names of those who signed up by 7:15 are drawn at random. There is a sound system with mikes and instrumental pickups suitable for individuals or small groups. In case of overflow, the first 20 performers to sign up will be given priority.

Variety show benefits L-S foundation

Want a good laugh? Come see teachers and staff at the 12th annual LSRHS faculty/staff/student Variety Show on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Kirshner Auditorium at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School to benefit FELS (Foundation for Educators at Lincoln-Sudbury) and the L-S Teachers’ Association Scholarship Fund. Acts include live music, dance, film, comedy and more. New this year are acts involving both students and school staff. Tickets are $6 for students/senior citizens, $8 for general admission. Advance sales take place October 19-23 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. outside the L-S cafeteria. For further information, email Paul Sarapas at paul_sarapas@lsrhs.net.

Medicare info session on Oct. 30

Anyone on Medicare as well as their family members and other caregivers are encouraged to attend the Medicare 2016 Open Enrollment Insurance Update Session on Friday, Oct. 30 at 10 a.m. in Bemis Hall. This session offers an opportunity to learn about changes in Medicare’s benefits and costs and to get information directly from representatives of supplemental insurance companies and the state’s Prescription Advantage program. The program will be presented by Don Milan and Anne Meade, Lincoln’s SHINE counselors, along with staff from the Minuteman SHINE Program, which provides unbiased information regarding health insurance and prescription drug options for seniors and those with disabilities. Also on hand will be representatives from the major supplemental health insurance plans; Anthony Moreschi, Constituent Services Representative for Congresswoman Katherine Clark; and Priscilla Leach, the town’s Veterans Services Officer. It is co-sponsored by the Lincoln Council on Aging and Minuteman SHINE.

Milan and Meade also provide free one-to-one counseling for Lincoln residents who need help signing up for Medicare, choosing among plans, applying for Medicaid/MassHealth, deciding about whether long-term care insurance is appropriate, resolving problems related to Medicare, and more. To arrange for an appointment, call the Lincoln Council on Aging at 781-259-8811.

Letter to the editor: attend campus master plan forum

letter

To the editor:

This letter is urge all to come to the first forum hosted by the Campus Master Planning Committee on Thursday, Oct. 15 from 7-9 p.m. in the Brooks Gym.

Lincoln is about to engage as a whole in crafting a new, big idea. There is an opportunity to create a legacy project that will serve now and for generations to come. This is the type of project that Lincoln has been famous for—big-picture, holistic thinking, and making large, long-term investments.

[Read more…] about Letter to the editor: attend campus master plan forum

Campus Master Plan Committee schedules forum

The Community Center Study Committee's "preferred option." Click on the image for more options and interior design ideas.

The Community Center Study Committee’s “preferred option.”

The Lincoln Campus Master Planning Committee (CMPC) invites all Lincoln residents as well as Lincoln School faculty and staff to attend its first public forum on Thursday, Oct. 15 from 7-9 p.m. in the Brooks Gym.

The CMPC, which was jointly formed by the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee in June, is in the process of evaluating the infrastructure and layout of the Ballfield Road campus to inform plans for the renovated Lincoln School and a contemplated community center building. The group met regularly throughout the summer and is working alongside external consultants LLB Architects as they review the earlier School Building Advisory Committee efforts and the Community Center Feasibility Committee study conducted last year, share initial findings, and solicit input from the community—especially those who visit the campus frequently.

Town officials and consultants also presented options and price estimates for both projects at the November 2014 State of the Town meeting.

Residents are also encouraged to attend one of two follow-up CMPC forums on Friday, Oct. 30. The CMPC will present at the PTO’s monthly meeting from 8:15-9:30 a.m. in the library story room and also at a Council on Aging session at 1 p.m. in Bemis Hall.

October doings from the Council on Aging

bemisHere are the October activities hosted by the Lincoln Council on Aging.

Hot jazz for a cool fall afternoon
October 1 at 2:30 p.m.
Whether you like your jazz hot or cool, you’ll love the Trad Jazz Sextet free concert on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 2:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall. This roving band of jazz-lovin’ retirees will have you on your feet dancing one minute, then reminiscing to favorites that will bring back sweet memories the next. Nothing is better for lifting your mood than music, so treat yourself to an afternoon of fun, entertainment, and uplifting old-timey tunes.

Wellness clinics for all ages
October 2 at 10 a.m.
All Lincoln residents are invited to meet with a nurse at Lincoln Woods’ Community Building at 50 Wells Rd. on Friday, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to noon. These clinics are funded by the Ogden Codman Trust and provided by Emerson Hospital Home Care. [Read more…] about October doings from the Council on Aging

Meetings on affordable housing, Hanscom coming up

The Hanscom Area Towns Committee (HATS) will host several officials who will speak about plans and activities to maintain and enhance the Hanscom Air Force Base on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall.

Chris Willenborg, the recently appointed executive director of the Massachusetts governor’s Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force, will discuss the task force’s plans and activities. He will be joined by MassDevelopment’s expert on military installations, Senior Vice President Anne Marie Dowd. Adam Freudberg, senior advisor to the chief technology officer at the base (and former executive director of the task force) will discuss efforts to enhance the base’s collaboration and innovation activities.

The public is welcome to attend all HATS meetings, which may also be viewed live or several days after the fact on Lincoln public access media via lincolntv.pegstream.com, Verizon channel 33, or Comcast channel 8, or viewed several days later by going to lincolntv.pegcentral.com.

HATS is an alliance between the Selectmen and other officials of Lincoln, Concord, Lexington, and Bedford, focusing on Hanscom Air Force Base, Hanscom Air Field, regional transportation, and other regional matters.

Affordable housing forum

Come learn about what the Lincoln Housing Coalition has been working on in the recent past and the current state of the town’s affordable housing stock at a forum on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 1-3 p.m. in the Town Hall’s Donaldson Room.

Attendees can hear and discuss plans for the future, learn what the state requires in order to allow accessory apartments to be counted in the town’s affordable housing inventory, discuss the benefits and the costs of pursuing this option, and weigh in on what can or should be done about the growing number of elderly who can no longer afford to live here (see this letter to the editor from Lincoln Housing Commission member Sharon Antia).

The Lincoln Housing Coalition is a collaboration of the town’s Housing Commission, Affordable Housing Trust, and the Lincoln Foundation. Housing applications are available by calling Elaine Carroll at 781-259-2613 or clicking here.

Two library programs on Isabella Stewart Gardner

Jess Piaia performs in period attire.

Jessa Piaia performs in period attire.

The Friends of the Lincoln Public Library are offering a special two-part program on the life and legacy of Isabella Stewart Gardner.

On Saturday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. in the library’s Tarbell Room, character re-enactor Jessa Piaia will present a dramatic portrayal of Gardner in “A Visit with Isabella Stewart Gardner: America’s First Patroness of the Arts.” The drama is set in 1910, seven years after the opening of Fenway Court, the house-museum which Mrs. Gardner designed and built for her extensive art collection, and willed to the City of Boston upon her demise. A recognized leader of Boston’s emerging salon scene, Gardner, with characteristic verve and candor, relates episodes about her luminous circle of family and friends, relives journeys to exotic lands, and shares other potentially scandalous encounters. The portrayal runs approximately 50 minutes, with an informal Q&A to follow. Free and open to all.

On Saturday, Nov. 7, a guided tour of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum with reduced price admission and bus transportation from the Lincoln Library to the museum is being sponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library. The bus will leave the library at 12:30 p.m. The tour is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. and the bus will leave the museum at 4 p.m., returning to Lincoln by 5 p.m. Total cost is $25 per person payable by check to the Friends of the Lincoln Public Library or in cash. Signup at the Library will begin the first week in September. The trip is limited to the first 20 people who sign up.